Gas leak at ONGC's Geleki oil field enters seventh day, residents fear Baghjan-like disaster

NAZIRA, July 12, 2026 — Continuous underground gas emissions near an ONGC oil field in Geleki have entered the seventh day, triggering widespread panic among residents who fear a disaster similar to the 2020 Baghjan blowout.

The incident has been reported from Bishnupur Adarsha Gaon under the Geleki No. Pam Baruwati Gaon Panchayat in Assam's Sivasagar district. Local residents have alleged negligence on the part of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in handling the situation.

According to residents, the leak was first noticed seven days ago at a broiler farm owned by Basanta Duwara, where gas began escaping from beneath the ground with considerable force. Over the following days, the emission reportedly spread to nearby areas, with a strong smell of gas enveloping the locality and creating fear among residents.

The continuing leak has raised concerns of a possible major accident, with many drawing comparisons to the Baghjan oil well blowout in Tinsukia district that caused extensive environmental damage and forced large-scale evacuations.

After being informed of the incident, an ONGC team reached the site and began excavation using earthmoving equipment in an attempt to identify the source of the leak. However, according to local residents, the exact source had not been located at the time of filing this report. Residents also claimed that fresh gas leakage had been noticed near another ONGC oil well in the vicinity, further heightening anxiety.

As a precaution, fire tenders have been deployed in the affected area. Residents said the local administration has advised them not to use fire for cooking because of the potential danger, leading to hardship for many families. They alleged that adequate arrangements for food and other essential supplies have not been made.

Local residents further claimed that such incidents have become recurring because ageing pipelines have not been replaced in time. They urged ONGC to take immediate and permanent measures to prevent any major accident.

Meanwhile, the Geleki regional unit of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) warned that it would launch an agitation to halt drilling and production activities at the Geleki oil field if the gas leak is not stopped immediately.

Residents have also alleged that underground gas seepage has been noticed at several other locations in Geleki and claimed that the authorities have not responded adequately to these reports.

The Assam Times could not independently verify the allegations made by local residents and the AJYCP. ONGC's response was not immediately available.